The American Dream for the Next Generation

The goal of this course is to explore and develop plans of action for improving the job and career opportunities for the next generation workforce. At this time, there aren’t enough good jobs or educational opportunities out there to maintain what we used to call the “American Dream” – the idea that each generation should be able to achieve a higher standard of living for themselves and their families. It’s a fundamental ideal that drives people all over the world – not just in the United States. To understand how we got here, and what we can do about it, we have to understand the world of work.

In this course, we’ll trace the history of work and employment that has made the economy work so well in the past. And we’ll uncover what’s gone wrong, in order to figure out new solutions that fit today’s workforce, economy, and society. We’ll also take you on a personal journey. You’ll define what the “American Dream” means to you and your peers, no matter where you live. What are your goals, aspirations and dreams? How can you make them happen? You’ll build a career plan – a guide to what you want to achieve and a step-by-step strategy for getting there – that will become a lifelong resource for you. You’ll learn what employers expect in today’s world of work – the skills, flexibility, and knowledge that are crucial for success in the contemporary workplace. We’ll examine what has to happen in order for employers, workers, governments, and regulators to come together to forge new policies, rules, and understandings for governing the world of work in the 21st century. We’ll make this all come alive by highlighting the experiences, contributions, and aspirations of real people who are working right now to address these challenges. So join us, and let’s get started on shaping the future of work.

A historical perspective and overview of work and employment policy in the United States

How the roles of firms, employees, and public policy have changed and created the labor market we see today

The status of the current labor market in more detail: What does it look like? What types of jobs do we have, and what skills are required? What are emerging trends in how firms organize work, and in the role of labor market institutions such as unions?

Resources and tools you can use to plan your own career paths in the workplaces of the future – those of the next generation